Purchase, NY (Mar. 24, 2017) – Purchase College dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader against New England College Friday evening, falling 5-1 in the opener and 6-0 in the nightcap.
In the opener, New England jumped ahead in the second inning off a Jeam Castillo RBI double to left field. Castillo later came around to score after Aneury Lara doubled to left field, giving the Pilgrims a 2-0 lead over the host Panthers.
New England added another run in the top of the third inning before Purchase answered back in the bottom of the fourth with a
Teofilo Ramirez (SR/Queens, NY) bomber over the left field wall. Despite the season-first homerun by the veteran short stop, Purchase could not hold off the Pilgrim offense. New England went on to score a runs in the fifth and seventh innings to claim the 5-1 victory.
Junior Jonathon Deacon (Lindenhurst, NY) (0-1) took the loss on the mound for the Panthers, striking out one and walking none in four innings of work. . Senior
Jacob Vazquez (Cortlandt Manor, NY ) and sophomore
Jake Scimone (Bayport, NY) also saw time out of the bullpen.
The Pilgrims tallied nine hits as a team, paced by Castillo, Stanley Vargas, and Evan Delaney with two hits apiece. Vincent Backert (1-1) picked up his first win of the season after striking out 10 in a complete-game performance.
New England's strong showing on the mound was complimented by its five-hit offensive outburst in game two. The visitors notched a homer and a triple in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead and added another run in the fourth and sixth in the 6-0 shutout victory. Castillo led the way, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Selah Dalomba (1-1) earned his first win of the season after pitching a complete game for the Pilgrims.
For Purchase, senior outfielder
Ronald Pressley (Bronx, NY) had an impressive three-hit performance, while senior third baseman
Patrick Rucci (Cortlandt Manor, NY) went 1-for-3 with a double.
Senior pitcher
Andrew Fingerhut (Smithtown, NY) (0-1) took the loss. Fingerhut allowed five runs on four hits over four innings of work.
Purchase is back in action on Sunday as the Panthers get set to host their Skyline Conference opener against the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Game one of the doubleheader will start at 11 a.m.